“As we mature, every day, we are letting go of something.”

When it’s time to move on, God will let us know. Lot and his wife had a clear invitation – an urging, in fact – that it was time to leave their place in Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet they lingered, and it cost Lot’s wife her life. You can read the whole account in Genesis 19.

In her book Bad Girls of the Bible, Liz Curtis Higgs has a thing or two to say about dwelling on the past or holding on to baggage.

“It is hard to not look back. It is hard to let go. If it weren’t difficult Jesus would not have said so. He knows this is hard for us, but He knows what is best for us.”

It can be hard to move on when God shows us it’s time. But it can be dangerous to linger instead of stepping forward in faith. Liz says we can ask a question to refocus our energy and passion instead of mourning over what we’ve lost.

“By letting go of that, now I have empty hands. What can I do? What are the things that now my life allows me to do? By letting go of that, I now can do this. What is it? Is it pray? Is it serve? Is it love? Is it [spending] time with people we care about?”

Ask yourself – if I can let it go, what will God place in my hands that is better?

God is always moving us forward, closer to Him and His way of thinking. When we follow the principle of Hebrews 12 and throw off every weight that hinders us, God replaces those weights with more of Himself. Liz points out that we develop more of the fruit of the Spirit – goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Releasing something in our life gives God more room and opportunity to work.

We can learn to step forward without dwelling as Lot’s wife did. Think for a moment. What is God calling to you release to Him? What is keeping you from living a full life in Christ? You can release it with God’s help. He is the one who will get the credit for your growth! We can celebrate what He’s done when we see Him face to face.

“It’s never going to be ‘I got it right. I did this.’ That is just not how that story ends. Our story ends with our arms uplifted saying, ‘God is so good. He worked with a mess like me and look what He did.’”

Key Scriptures: Matthew 16:26; Genesis 18-19; Luke 17:31-33

Featured Songs: The River by Jordan Feliz; Hold On by Toby Mac; Deeper by Meredith Andrews

Highlight : The danger of dwelling in the past

Redemption stories: Lot’s wife